Matthew b



(N0 Model.)

M. R. MOORE.

MACEINERY FOR MAKING MOLDs FOR CASTING. No. 302,349.

Patented July 22 r11/lllill/lllll/llill/lfllfll//l/nvill/lnvill/1111111 N4 PETERS Pham Lnnagmpher. wmhmxwn. n. c

UNiTnn STATES PATENT @Trice 'MATTHEW R. MOORE, AOF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

MACHINERY FOR MAKING IVIOLDS FOR CASTING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 302,349, dated July 22, 1884:.

' Application led December QI, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, MATTHEW R; MOORE, of the city of Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Machinery for Making Molds for Castings; and I do hereby declare that the following is such a clear, full, and complete description of my invention as will enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains tounderstand and construct the same.

My improvement relates to that part of the `operation of making molds for castings known as tamping the molds,7 sometimes termed ramming." This operation, the proper compacting of the material technically known as sand7 as is well known by practical founders, is a most essential part of the molders art, for if any part of the material be not sufiiciently compressed it will not keep in place, but is liable to break down or be washed out by the iniiow of the melted metal, Iand if any part be compacted too hard, it will not be sufficiently porous to permit the escape of contained air and the vapor given off by the melted metal, and the casting produced will be unsound.

In the operation of molding success depends on the skill and judgment of the workman. Machinery has before been devised for the performance of this operation which could be made to produce uniform and perfect results, if it great variety or thickness by means of any appliances hitherto invented. By the use of my improvement, however, itis practicable to give the same degree of compactness to every part of the mold, whether thick or thin, so that uniform and perfect results may be obtained from any variety or dimensions of pattern. yI employ a flexible diaphragm or yielding cushion of rubberorother suitable material containing air, water, or other fluid or plastic substance, through which the pressure .is transmitted to the mold. This I use either alone or in combination with pistons or rammers intermediate between it and the sand, as hereinafter described. The whole surface of the mold may by this means be subjected to auniform pressure; but compression only takes place in proportion to the thickness of the niaterial to be compacted, and the result is a mold of uniform density or hardness.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification, and represent what I consider the best means of carrying out the invention.

Figure 1 is a vertical section through the machine in what I consider its most complete form. The remaining figures represent modifications. Fig. 2 shows the apparatus as arranged without the intermediate rammers, but allowing the fiexible diaphragm to act directly on the sand. Fig. 3 shows the same with provisions for working the cover up and down by iiuid applied to the piston in a cylinder above. Fig. 4 shows the. apparatus without any means for forcing down the cover. In this form the compression of the sand depends on forcing in the iiuid above.

Similar letters of reference indicate. corresponding parts in all the figures where they occur. I

`Vhen the half of a iiask or mold has been iilled level full of sand. not yet compacted, and then its upper surface evenly compressed through a space of, say, two inches, as by means of a rigid piston which fills the top of the flask, those portions of the sand which lie above the thicker parts of the pattern would be more compacted than those over the thinner parts, or those parts of the flask notoccupied by the patterns. transmits pressure in direct lines, and not laterally to much extent. But instead of the solid rigid piston, or its equivalent, as employed in molding-machines hitherto devised, I employ a strong movable cover, which I will terni a platem77 faced with a diaphragm or cushion of flexible material loosely filled with air or other fluid, which diaphragm may be broughtdown upon the sand with sufficient v Sand, unlike iiuds,

IOO

force. The flexible diaphragm will so distribute the pressure that the thinner parts of the sand will only yield until they reach that degree of compactness which will enable them to resist the pressure applied, when they will' Ylole diaphragm of rubber or other suitable material tightly attached by its edges, the space between the flexible diaphragm and the rigid platen G being iilled with water or other fluid, as required. The platen G- is provided with two smooth rods, G2, one near each edge, which traverse in a steadiment provided in a framing, M, and serve as guides to maint-ain a perfectly parallel position of the piston while it is propelled up and down by the connection to a crank-pin, h, rotated by a shaft, H, operated by a steam-engine or other suitable power. (Not shown.) Y

G3 is a flexible pipe, leading water or other fluid from the pump Gt or from an elevated reservoir or other efficient means of furnishing fluid under pressure. It is controlled by a valve. Another valve, g', serves as ameans for discharging whenever it is desired to collapse the diaphragm'. As here shown, the platen G is provided with a stout rim, Gili, projecting downward a considerable distance on all sides.

I I are a series of bars,of hard wood or other suitable material laid side by side and gently compressed together by an encircling-clamp, I, which is by rods z' suspended to the piston. The pressure of the clamp I on the bars I shouldbe sufficient to overcome the gravity and cause them to rise with each elevation of the piston, but not so great as to forbid their easily accommodating themselves to varying conditions in the sand below.

To operate the invention, the flask A, having patterns C, and filled with molding-sand of the proper composition and dampness, not rammed, is brought into position on the bed E, while the platen G with its attachments is in its elevated position. Then the shaft His turned and the piston caused to descend. It is arrested with the crank near its lowest portion, andthe hooks F are moved inward and caused to engage over the edge of the piston. Then the valve g is opened by the attendant, and fluid flows through the pipe G3 into the space between the platen G and the ilexible vdiaphragm G', creating a uniform and increased high pressure there. The valve is closed and the shaft turned rapidly. This depresses the platen as many times as may be desired, striking a series of blows, pressing the lower ends of the bars upon the sand. The sand yields -lowed to escape.

irregularly,the bars being all urged down uniformly by the uniform pressure of the iluid on the diaphragm. Those bars which come over a high part of the pattern press the sand down but little, while those which come over a thin portion press it down farther. The clamp I allows the bars to change their positions, as required, and ultimately all come to rest in the required irregular position. After the sand has been thus compressed, first by direct pressure and then by the blows, the valve is opened and alarge portion of the fluid is al- The shaft is turned to bring its crank-pin h into the highest position, thus correspondingly elevating the platen and its attachments, and the flask is removed. An inverted box or analogous device having a plane upper surface is now introduced in place of the flask, and by striking one blow the bars are again evened or brought all to a uniform level. Then, removing that plane device and introducing the next flask, the crank is again depressed, the pressure of the fluid again applied, the hooks are again engaged, and the operation is aga-in repeated. After each flask is removed, with a liberal quantity of sand properly compressed in immediate contact with the mold, the irregular upper surface may be easily evened by adding more moldingsand, rammed, andthe operation is complete.

L is a gage by which the amount of pressure induced by the fluid is indicated.

Fig. 3 shows a different application of my elastic or yielding platen, where the sand or molding material is compacted by beating alone.

- Fig. 4L shows the elastic diaphragm as used when pressure is applied by forcing in water, compressed air, steam, or other fluid conveyed to its interior through a hose, as shown, the pressure being regulated by means of a valve, g, and indicated by a pressure-gage, L. In this case the cover having the diaphragm attached must be clamped to the flask, and for convenience may be suspended from a crane.

In any of the applications shown the flexible diaphragm and platen may be made sectional or multiple, consisting of any number of diaphragms, separate or conjoined, and operating independently or together, as may be best adapted to the work. Thus in Fig. 3 the platen and cylinder might be replaced by any number of smaller platens and cylinders aggregately equivalent and operating independently or simultaneously. So, also, in the other applications shown, I do not confine myself to the use of the yielding platen or diaphragm singly, nor to any particular multiple of it. The sectional or multiple form affords convenent means of adaptation to molds of different sizes.

I can use the elastic diaphragm or platen as shown, or I can combine it with any other suitable machinery for filling the iiasks with sand or other molding material, automatically or otherwise, and for placing and withdrawing the patterns and handling the completed mold,

IOO

IIO

and I propose to use any and all such applica'- tions and combinations as required.

Modications may be made in the proportions and arrangements of various parts. rIhe hooks may be applied on all sides, oronly on two sides. For the latter purpose, it is preferable to arrange them on the two sides adj acent to the uprights of the framing, leaving liberal clear spaces on the other two sides through which to introduce and remove the liasks.

My invention may be operated to give successive blows while the last installment of sand is being lled in, any convenient mechanism being used to automatically regulate the height of the flask or stroke of the platen to suit the amount of material to be compressed.

In molding a number of similar articles successively, the parallel bars I and the diaphragm need not be evened between the several operations; but, having been made to assume the required relations in treating the rst iiask, those positions of the bars I I and of the diaphragm G relatively to each other may be maintained in ramming all the succeeding flasks.

I claim as my invention- 1. In combination with the flask A and mold-board B, the platen G, having leXible diaphragm G', means, as G3 G4 g, for supplying uid to said diaphragm, and means, as g, for carrying 0E such fluid, as herein specified.

2. The combination, with the platen G, having flexible diaphragm containing uid, of the shaft H, crank-pin h, frame M, and rod G2, and connecting-pitman, substantially as set forth.

3. In a machine for making molds for castings, the combination, with aask, A, and support or bed E, of a platen, G, hooks or locking means F, flexible diaphragm G', and provisions, as G"l Gfg g', and connected means for applying fluid-pressure between the diaphragm and the piston, as herein specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, at Indianapolis, Indiana, this 13th day of December, 1883, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MATTHEW R. MOORE.

Witnesses:

R. M. COFFIN,

ROLLIN Dnrnnns. 

